RapportFondation_2026_V03 Pages LIGHT EN - Flipbook - Page 54
Supporting scienti昀椀c research
2025 REPORT
MADAGASCAR
©Cétamada
Assessing the health of
Humpback whales in Madagascar
AMOUNT COMMITED TO DATE: € 5.000
2025 > PRESENT
Off the coast of Madagascar, one of nature’s most remarkable spectacles unfolds each year as Humpback whales
return to breed. Driven to the brink of extinction during the early twentieth century by commercial whaling, the
species has made a remarkable recovery following the global ban on commercial whaling. Today, it is classified
as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. While this represents one of conservation’s greatest success stories,
continued monitoring remains essential. Improving our understanding of Humpback whale health, particularly
their susceptibility to respiratory diseases, is vital to ensuring their long-term protection.
To support this effort, the Pairi Daiza Foundation is partnering with the Malagasy conservation organisation Cétamada
to implement an innovative, non-invasive technique known as a «blow biopsy», or «blowpsie». This method involves
collecting samples of the whales’ exhaled breath to analyse the bacteria present in their respiratory tract.
The aim of the study is to determine whether specific bacterial signatures can serve as indicators of Humpback
whale health, providing valuable insights for the species’ long-term conservation.
AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
DEVELOP AND VALIDATE A SCIENTIFIC PROTOCOL FOR COLLECTING RESPIRATORY SAMPLES WITHOUT DIRECT
CONTACT WITH THE ANIMALS
ANALYSE THE RESPIRATORY BACTERIAL DIVERSITY OF HUMPBACK WHALES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PATHOGENS
GENERATE SCIENTIFIC DATA TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL HUMPBACK WHALE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES
RECENT PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
THE 2025 FIELD EXPEDITIONS HAVE ALREADY DELIVERED ENCOURAGING RESULTS, WITH
DOZENS OF BIOPSY AND BLOW SAMPLES SUCCESSFULLY COLLECTED. PRELIMINARY ANALYSES
CONFIRM THE ROBUSTNESS OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROTOCOL AND ARE ALREADY HELPING TO
REFINE METHODS FOR MONITORING THE SPECIES.
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